DWI traffic deaths down in New Mexico for 2018

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Less than 30 percent of the deaths on New Mexico's roadways in 2018 involved alcohol-related crashes, marking a significant decline from the previous two years.

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Preliminary data compiled by the state Transportation Department and the University of New Mexico shows 108 people died on the state's roads last year in crashes that involved alcohol.

That's down from the 147 deaths recorded in 2017 and down from the 171 alcohol-related fatalities reported in 2016.

Overall, New Mexico recorded 385 deaths on its roadways in 2018, up slightly from the previous year. Nearly two-thirds of the crashes happened in rural areas, and more than 20 percent of the deaths involved pedestrians.

The data also shows the number of people who died and were not wearing seat belts increased to 140 in 2018.